Like a Dream...

It all felt as though I was walking through a dream as I walked upon the dirt path filled with twigs and leaves. The air around me seemed to shimmer and move as though it were alive. My body seemed to move on its own, knowing the exact path to take while my mind could only watch.

A light seemed to be coming from everywhere at once as though the plants and trees radiated with it. I saw nor heard any animals or insects as I walked as if I were the only living thing that walked through the trees. The only sound coming from each foot fall as I walked. Every now and then I would catch movement out of the corner of my eye. It was slight and always disappeared when I turned my head.

As I continued my journey, I began to catch the faint sound of music, so soft that I first believed it was my mind playing tricks on me. As the time passed however, the music became more distinct and I could clearly make out what sounded like a flute being played in a lively mood. I tried to will my body to stop so I could listen more closely to the music being played, but my body would not listen to me. The music began to get louder and I could make out the soft beat of drums.

Through the haze and shimmering of the air, I stepped into a grove surrounded by large trees of every kind. In the center of this grove there were many people, they all were dancing to the music and there were table set up around the perimeter of the grove. It seemed as though a feast of some sort was taking place. I was so entranced by what I saw that I didn't even realize that I had stopped at the edge of the grove. I was snapped out of it as soon as I heard my name being called. I realized that someone had walked up to me and calling me by my name. He and I stared at one another for a few moments, a big smile spread across his face and he said "Welcome friend..."

Time Spent with Friends

The sun's rays shine through the foliage of the surrounding trees, casting some spots in light and leaving others in shadow. A bird begins to sing melodically off in the distance and the music a grasshopper makes can be heard all over. The air grows warmer at each passing moment causing small beads of sweat to roll down the man's forehead. He has traveled this path many time durring his lifetime and the warmth does not seem to bother him any longer.

A small breeze blows through the trees, causing the branches and the newly awakened leaves to shift allowing even more light to shine through, giving the man a momentary relief from the heat. He looks upward as he walks, taking note how blue the sky looks from what he can see through the canopy above him.

Spring was coming to an end as life began anew, making way for summer and the time for growth and learning. Lost in his thoughts, the man stepped through to find a small waterfall situated on the side of a rock wall. The sound of the water as it slid down the rocks to land in the pool at the bottom was very tranquil to the man. He walked over to a boulder that sat beside the pool and sat down upon it.

The pool beneath the waterfall was as wide as he was tall, and not that deep. The water was clear enough that you could see all the way to the bottom. If you sat at the right angel facing the waterfall you could even see a rainbow. This was the perfect place to come to collect his thoughts. He used this place to forget about everything in the outside world, only to focus on the here and now when he needed to. Most often of late he would journey here to evaluate his life and whether he is walking the right paths. However, today was not one of those days; today he came just be there, to be at peace.

It was not long before his friends began to appear. He first heard the sound of leaves rustling as they learned of who it was that sat beside the pool. From far away they looked a lot like fireflies, but as they drew closer you could make out the little bodies covered in what consisted of leaves and grass that made up the shirts, pants, and dresses. Their wings were the most beautiful transluscent colors that seemed to almost glow against the shadows.

First one or two came to land near him, then more came. Most went straight for the pond to splash and play while a few came to sit with the man. Their voices were very high and hard to understand, but the man had visited many times and understand them perfectly. The man enjoyed the time he spent here, he always regretted leaving when the time came.

Time slipped by and before the man new it the shadows of the forest began to lengthen. He said his farewells to his little friends and began his trek back through the forest towards his home. The man had very little thoughts as he walked, only remembering today's events, making sure he would carry those memories for a long time.

As he emerged from the forest, he looked toward the horizon and he saw large black clouds that were just crossing over the mountains that he saw. He could smell the rain in the air and knew that it would hit the next day.

Reminiscence

The fields shine brilliantly as the sun reflects off the water droplets that lie on each blade of grass. As far as you can see, the sun's beams break through the mass of dark clouds that brought the storm. The air is cool as a soft breeze makes its way across the fields, giving them the look of an ocean as the grass moves with the wind and the light bouncing off of the water.

At the edge of a forest, there lies a tree fallen with age. Atop the tree sits an old wise man who leans on a staff as he watches the fields before him. His hair and beard have turned white and his skin hangs loosely about him giving him the look of being blown over by the tiniest gust of wind.

He sits there, contemplating his life and the life around him. He looks out across the fields, reminiscing about times past. In his memories he can remember children playing laughing and playing all day long among the tall grasses. He also remembers the battles that have been fought and the lives lost. He has lived a long life, seen many seasons come and go, seen children grow up and have children and then those children having children of their own. He reaches down to place his weathered hand upon the fallen tree. He can still feel the life there. It is not as strong as it had once been, but it was still there.

Another breeze sweeps across the fields making the grass move like the waves towards the forest where the wise man sits. There, upon the fallen tree, the wise man looks out one last time on the place that he remembers and he smiles as one last breath escapes his lips and his eyes close.